A Day At Twinkle
My all-time favorite jobs as a photographer are those that involve shooting artists' spaces, and, of course, the artists that they house. So I was completely thrilled when Knit.1 asked me to pay a visit to designer Wenlan Chia's studio in Manhattan to spend the day with her for a few portraits and studio shots. We had such a great time together - and I thought I'd share some of the shots with you, as I'm sure there are some big Twinkle fans out there.
![Wenlan Chia](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3097/3141747146_475d9108a7.jpg)
In the handknitting community, Wenlan is probably best known for her signature super bulky merino yarn - Soft Chunky (pictured below) (kinda looks like cotton candy, doesn't it?) and the wonderfully chunky fashion knits she conjures up with it.
![A Day at Twinkle](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3240/3141745998_feec8cfeb7.jpg)
She carries two other yarn lines, which I hadn't ever experienced in person - and let me tell you, being surrounded by handknit samples of throws everywhere you turn isn't a bad way to experience a new yarn either.
And while of course I had plenty of delicious knits around to keep my lens busy all day... there were certainly a few other things that I had a hard time keeping away from...
![A Day at Twinkle](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3246/3140920107_58669ca91a.jpg)
Wenlan's dog, Milan, has a huge personality and wanted to be a part of the action all day. Aside from being a photogenic little canine, he serves as inspiration for many of Wenlan's home designs as I soon found out.
![A Day at Twinkle](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3231/3141744608_2dc1ee5e70.jpg)
![A Day at Twinkle](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3233/3141744974_892d2fac88.jpg)
I think I mentioned in a previous post about my Twinkle Chunky throw (Finished! Photos soon!) that I had come into a small stash of Soft Chunky in a special circumstance - well this is how. I saw these luscious throws in the studio and had to have one. And since Wenlan basically forced me to take yarn... what was I to do but gracefully oblige?
![A Day at Twinkle](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3220/3140920395_35e72c2fd2.jpg)
![A Day at Twinkle](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3257/3140919675_2c6d0caae2.jpg)
![A Day at Twinkle](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3090/3141744326_eb28e90d69.jpg)
If you'd like to read up on Wenlan's inspiring story, check out the article in the current issue of Knit.1 for more. My very own Chia-designer-throw will be featured here in just a few short days... if I can pull myself out from under it long enough for a photoshoot.
![Wenlan Chia](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3085/3141746722_6a59c5daa1.jpg)
I hope you are all enjoying the holidays and giving your knitting some extra special face-time. It feels like the first time I've been able to take a breath and truly enjoy my knitting for some time. And it's wonderful.
[If you haven't gotten enough of Ms. Chia, see more photos from Twinkle here]